Adam Pemble, AP journalist whose compassionate lens brought stories to life, dies at 52
( MENAFN - Daily News Egypt) Ahmed Kouchouk, Minister of Finance, announced significant reforms aimed at improving tax services, with the first package of tax facilities set to be fully implemented by the end of the current fiscal year. These measures, he emphasized, will foster a new era of trust, partnership, and certainty between the business community and the Tax Authority. Speaking during a meeting with the Republican People's Party's parliamentary bloc in the Administrative Capital, Kouchouk highlighted several initiatives designed to enhance the business environment.“We have developed a sample inspection system for all taxpayers and have launched an experimental central electronic clearing system for government dues and debts,” he explained.“This system is intended to build confidence with our partners, facilitate their operations, and improve cash liquidity.” The Minister also outlined plans to gradually integrate the informal economy, focusing on improving tax systems and offering greater support to small, medium, and large enterprises.“Our goal is to ensure that investors achieve substantial profits within a clear framework of rights and obligations, paving the way for a productive partnership with the Tax Authority,” Kouchouk said. Furthermore, he emphasized the Tax Authority's initiative to revise administrative decisions and instructions as a clear signal of the government's commitment to boosting the investment climate.“We strongly believe in the private sector's potential to drive growth, and we will continue to support it within the Egyptian economy,” he affirmed, noting ongoing collaboration with the Minister of Investment and Foreign Trade to reduce fees and unify collection agencies. The Minister also pointed to the growing demand for public-private partnerships, particularly in the service sectors and renewable energy, driven by the state's limitations on public investment. The Ministry aims to increase spending on human development and social protection, alongside expanding programs to stimulate and support productive activities. Kouchouk stressed that the simplified tax system demonstrates a deep understanding of the importance of nurturing entrepreneurship, especially in the realm of digital exports. He highlighted the significant growth of information technology service exports and emphasized the need to further stimulate this sector.“Our export program for the upcoming fiscal year is ambitious, aiming to diversify and expand exports while tapping into new markets,” he stated. Additionally, Kouchouk highlighted the role of the medium-term budget framework in enhancing the efficiency of public spending and improving services for citizens.“We are committed to fostering a national dialogue, especially with young people, to refine our priorities and achieve key targets for citizens, investors, and the broader Egyptian economy,” he concluded. The meeting was attended by senior officials, including Sherif El-Kilani, Deputy Minister for Tax Policies; Ahmed Abdel Razek, Permanent Undersecretary of the Ministry of Finance; Rami Youssef, Assistant Minister for Tax Policies and Development; Rasha Abdel Aal, Head of the Egyptian Tax Authority; and various other political and governmental figures. MENAFN15122024000153011029ID1108995650 Legal Disclaimer: MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.For Saad Mohseni, CEO of Afghanistan’s largest media company, Moby Group, business (and life) is a constant balancing act since the Taliban’s takeover in 2021. While describing the regime as a “police state” in an interview on this week, Mohseni argued of the Taliban’s rule that, “There are some successes... I think most Afghans would agree with me that they’re less corrupt than the previous government.” “The Taliban arrived saying, ‘Hey, we are here to serve you.’ So the courts functioned better. The government, of course, is more attentive to people’s needs. The private sector seems to be in a better place,” he continued, noting also that the opium trade has been curtailed. “So there are some positives, but of course the negatives are really obvious, like a ban on girls' education beyond sixth grade, trying to curtail what women can do in the workplace.” Mohseni noted that enforcement of these restrictions is often inconsistent. While the country’s capital Kabul sees relative leniency, rural regions endure stricter control. (If you’re caught listening to music in some areas, he explained.) “For example, women are still working for us. Women are still working for NGOs. Women are still working for the government in most of the country.” Of Kabul specifically, Mohseni continued, “Women walk around faces uncovered. They go to the shops. Women can drive. I mean, I don’t want to give the impression that everything’s okay, but it could be worse.” “By nature, you push back; you always push the envelope,” Mohseni told co-hosts Joanna Coles and Samantha Bee. In this vein, Mohseni’s Moby Group has turned to technology. “We are now tutoring a group of girls using WhatsApp,” Mohseni said, as a way to address the ban on formal schooling. Through this initiative, developed in partnership with UNICEF, students ask questions and follow a curriculum-compliant program. “The girls who participate often outperform boys attending school, and they pass on what they learn to their brothers,” he noted. Despite these successes, Mohseni acknowledged the program’s limitations. “This is no substitute for a school,” he emphasized. “Kids go to school to interact, play, and build social skills. These girls must be going through hell, stuck inside their homes.” For now, the tutoring program operates without interference, but he cautioned, “Everything I say ends with ‘for now.’”
Adam Pemble, AP journalist whose compassionate lens brought stories to life, dies at 5276ers' star Paul George sidelined the next 2 games with bone bruise in left knee
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Greg Gumbel, a longtime CBS sportscaster, has died from cancer, according to a statement from family released by CBS on Friday. He was 78. “He leaves behind a legacy of love, inspiration and dedication to over 50 extraordinary years in the sports broadcast industry; and his iconic voice will never be forgotten,” his wife Marcy Gumbel and daughter Michelle Gumbel said in a statement. In March, Gumbel missed his first NCAA Tournament since 1997 due to what he said at the time were family health issues. Gumbel was the studio host for CBS since returning to the network from NBC in 1998. Gumbel signed an extension with CBS last year that allowed him to continue hosting college basketball while stepping back from NFL announcing duties. In 2001, he announced Super Bowl XXXV for CBS, becoming the first Black announcer in the U.S. to call play-by-play of a major sports championship. David Berson, president and CEO of CBS Sports, described Greg Gumbel as breaking barriers and setting standards for others during his years as a voice for fans in sports, including in the NFL and March Madness. “A tremendous broadcaster and gifted storyteller, Greg led one of the most remarkable and groundbreaking sports broadcasting careers of all time," said Berson. RELATED STORY | Richard Parsons, prominent executive who led Time Warner and Citigroup, dies at 76 Gumbel had two stints at CBS, leaving the network for NBC when it lost football in 1994 and returning when it regained the contract in 1998. He hosted CBS’ coverage of the 1992 and 1994 Winter Olympics and called Major League Baseball games during its four-year run broadcasting the national pastime. But it was football and basketball where he was best known and made his biggest impact. Gumbel hosted CBS’ NFL studio show, “The NFL Today” from 1990 to 1993 and again in 2004. He also called NFL games as the network’s lead play-by-play announcer from 1998 to 2003, including Super Bowl XXXV and XXXVIII. He returned to the NFL booth in 2005, leaving that role after the 2022 season.Port Moody approves provisional 5.71 percent property tax increase
ASML Deadline: ASML Investors with Losses in Excess of $100K Have Opportunity to Lead ASML Holding N.V. Securities Fraud LawsuitManchester City boss Pep Guardiola reiterated that “everyone is innocent until proven guilty” as he responded to comments from Jose Mourinho about winning “cleanly and fairly”. Towards the end of Sunday’s 2-0 loss at Liverpool, Guardiola was subjected to chants that he would be “sacked in the morning” from Reds fans and responded by holding up six fingers, to represent the number of Premier League titles he has won with City. Two days later, when was asked about former Chelsea boss Mourinho holding up three fingers before being axed by Manchester United in 2018, he said: “I hope not in my case. Maybe in the end we are quite similar, (and I’m) like Jose. But he won three, I won six.” Mourinho, now in charge at Fenerbahce, on Friday was quoted by Turkey’s Sporx as saying: “I want to win, but I want to win cleanly and fairly. He (Guardiola) won six trophies and I won three, but I won fair and clean. If I lost, I want to congratulate my opponent for being better than me. I don’t want to win by dealing with 150 cases.” City were charged with 115 alleged breaches of top-flight financial rules in February 2023, and with failing to co-operate with the subsequent investigation. The club have denied the charges and an outcome is expected next year. Asked about Mourinho’s remarks at his pre-match press conference ahead of Saturday’s trip to Crystal Palace, Guardiola said: “It was a joke. But he’s another one in the huge list that they want the team being in, I don’t know, League One or the Conference. “I would say to Jose the same – we are innocent until proven guilty, and after that we will see what happens. It is what it is. It was completely a joke. “I think both with our teams, him with Chelsea, myself with Man City, we can sit at the table with Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger (who won 13 league titles with United and three with Arsenal respectively), right? For the many, many titles we won. “If I have offended him (Mourinho) I’m so sorry, but it was a joke. The fact is he has three and I have six. This is a fact. But the intention was completely fine. “It is another one from the huge list in this country and more around the world that want us at the bottom. “It’s OK, it’s fine. I’ve said many times wait for the sentence and everyone, especially in democracy, is innocent until proven guilty. Right? So we’ll wait, and after we’ll see.” As well as the six league titles, City’s haul of silverware since Guardiola took charge in 2016 includes two FA Cups and four League Cups, and he has also overseen them winning the Champions League, Super Cup and Club World Cup. Guardiola was asked if he had ever envisaged it being as good as it has been when he arrived at the club, and the former Barcelona and Bayern Munich head coach said: “No. I remember many people say ‘he wins because it’s Barcelona with Leo Messi and the other ones’, I had to prove it in England. OK, we did it.” The result at Anfield was a sixth defeat in a seven-game winless run for City, and fourth league loss in a row – a sequence they then ended with Wednesday’s 3-0 home victory over Nottingham Forest. The champions currently lie fourth, nine points behind Arne Slot’s leaders Liverpool, and Guardiola said: “We broke that bad run. Always it’s not easy when you don’t win for a long time, and now you break it and we have to try to continue with the players, the spirit we show, and we’ll see what happens.” The last two matches have seen Stefan Ortega play in goal, with Ederson on the bench, and asked what the latter had to do to get back in the team, Guardiola said: “He needs the manager to select him. This is what he needs, it’s simple.”
SafeSport Center changes targeted in new bill aimed at sex abuse in sportsBiden calls for Assad to be 'held accountable'Port Moody council has been able to significantly whittle down its proposed property tax increase, approving a 5.71 percent bump for its provisional 2025 budget. The interim figure was discussed at a finance committee meeting on Dec. 17, with council managing to slash around seven percent since budget deliberations began in October. Mayor Meghan Lahti said this year’s budget came with challenges she’s never experienced in her 25 years in office, noting the consumer price index has risen nearly 14 percent since council took office. “That is astronomical,” Lahti said. “It was really important to show our willingness to reduce the budget in areas that are priorities for us, because we are responding to the public’s desire to see a lower tax increase.” Port Moody’s taxpayers have faced a combined 15.89 percent tax hike over the previous two budget cycles. Public frustration was reflected in this year’s budget consultations, with over half of respondents opposed to any increases in 2025. Approximately 70 percent of the city’s $90 million budget is funded through taxation, with the city’s provisional budget adding an additional $3.3 million from last year, amounting to $167 more for the average household. Staff’s initial tax proposal pitched a 10.85 percent when deliberations began, which council reduced to 8.52 percent following two workshops. However, reductions in the BC Assessment roll and increased labour costs and benefits added another $1.25 million, bringing the figure back up to 10.3 percent. Council has since made substantial cuts for a further $2.68 million reduction, or 4.59 percent. This includes pausing the city’s Climate Action Levy for a year ($584,000); using accumulated surplus to fund community events, inclusionary initiatives and previously deferred items ($695,000); reducing various reverse transfers ($319,000); decreasing services levels ($317,000); budget reductions ($150,000); eliminating or phasing in new budget requests ($192,000); and adjusting sick-time and vacation benefits ($150,000). The city has also recalculated the amount of revenue it expects from pay parking, recreation, filming, leasing and businesses licensing, adding $345,000. Paul Rockwood, general manager of finance and technology, said “tough economic times require tough measures.” He said the city significantly underestimated the amount of tax revenue it would bring in from new growth. Originally, staff expected to net an additional $584,000, but less than a quarter of that was realized. “We had very minimal taxation growth this year,” Rockwood said. “But we are facing increased demand, internally and externally for a variety of services.” Lahti said she’s seen a lot of public commentary regarding the lack of tax revenues from new growth, but cautioned it takes time before it shows up on the city’s balance sheet. She said she anticipates more money will be realized after a new BC Assessment roll occurs in 2025. “Hopefully next year will be a much more positive outcome for all the work that we’re putting in to provide housing,” Lahti said. “We want to see that translated into a reduction in our taxes, or at least some breathing room.” Council was defensive regarding the recent budget increases, with some members taking aim at previous council’s decisions, social media chatter, and media reporting. Coun. Kyla Knowles attacked what she described as “rampant misinformation and spin” on social media. She said comparisons with the former council’s budgets were unfair, pointing to inflationary impacts, and budget reductions from in-person events and positions being cut during the COVID-19 pandemic. Knowles also asserted the former council drained the growth-stabilization reserve, which added $400,00 annually to city coffers to help ease the loss of its industrial tax base. “The previous council depleted it to their great benefit, and it’s a shame that it didn’t continue to get topped up as we went along,” Knowles said. Couns. Callan Morrison and Samantha Agtarap both took issue with a Global News story, which ranked Port Moody’s initial 8.52 percent increase as the highest in the Lower Mainland. Agtarap said such comparisons are inevitable, but argued it is not fair to compare Port Moody to municipalities with casinos, which receive 10 percent of their net revenues. “For a community like Richmond, that’s over $12 million, and for Coquitlam, that’s almost $7 million (annually),” she said. Coun. Diana Dilworth warned of continued instability in the coming years. “There’s not a lot of certainty that any local government has at this time,” she said. She noted the Canadian dollar continues to drop, federal rebate cheques have been cancelled, and the entire political landscape could change by the next federal election. Dilworth suggested the growth-stabilization reserve ought to be re-established, stating it was initially set up in the 1990s to help ease tax impacts. Council voted to have staff report back with a strategic plan and policy to create a new reserve, dubbed by Lahti as the rate-stabilization reserve. Port Moody has until May 15 to pass the official budget.
The military's tradition of tracking Santa Claus on his gravity-defying sweep across the globe will carry on this Christmas Eve, even if the U.S. government shuts down, officials said Friday. Each year, at least 100,000 kids call into the North American Aerospace Defense Command to inquire about Santa’s location. Millions more follow online. “We fully expect for Santa to take flight on Dec. 24 and NORAD will track him," the U.S.-Canadian agency said in a statement. On any other night, NORAD is scanning the heavens for potential threats, such as last year's Chinese spy balloon. But on Christmas Eve, volunteers in Colorado Springs, Colorado, are fielding questions like, “When is Santa coming to my house?” and, “Am I on the naughty or nice list?” The endeavor is supported by local and corporate sponsors, who also help shield the tradition from Washington dysfunction. Bob Sommers, 63, a civilian contractor and NORAD volunteer, told The Associated Press that there are "screams and giggles and laughter” when families call in, usually on speakerphone. Sommers often says on the call that everyone must be asleep before Santa arrives, prompting parents to say, "Do you hear what he said? We got to go to bed early." NORAD's annual tracking of Santa has endured since the Cold War, predating ugly sweater parties and Mariah Carey classics. Here's how it began and why the phones keep ringing. The origin story is Hollywood-esque It started with a child's accidental phone call in 1955. The Colorado Springs newspaper printed a Sears advertisement that encouraged children to call Santa, listing a phone number. A boy called. But he reached the Continental Air Defense Command, now NORAD, a joint U.S. and Canadian effort to spot potential enemy attacks. Tensions were growing with the Soviet Union, along with anxieties about nuclear war. Air Force Col. Harry W. Shoup picked up an emergency-only “red phone” and was greeted by a tiny voice that began to recite a Christmas wish list. “He went on a little bit, and he takes a breath, then says, ‘Hey, you’re not Santa,’” Shoup told The Associated Press in 1999. Realizing an explanation would be lost on the youngster, Shoup summoned a deep, jolly voice and replied, “Ho, ho, ho! Yes, I am Santa Claus. Have you been a good boy?” Shoup said he learned from the boy's mother that Sears mistakenly printed the top-secret number. He hung up, but the phone soon rang again with a young girl reciting her Christmas list. Fifty calls a day followed, he said. In the pre-digital age, the agency used a 60-by-80-foot (18-by-24-meter) plexiglass map of North America to track unidentified objects. A staff member jokingly drew Santa and his sleigh over the North Pole. The tradition was born. “Note to the kiddies,” began an AP story from Colorado Springs on Dec. 23, 1955. “Santa Claus Friday was assured safe passage into the United States by the Continental Air Defense Command.” In a likely reference to the Soviets, the article noted that Santa was guarded against possible attack from "those who do not believe in Christmas.” Is the origin story humbug? Some grinchy journalists have nitpicked Shoup's story, questioning whether a misprint or a misdial prompted the boy's call. In 2014, tech news site Gizmodo cited an International News Service story from Dec. 1, 1955, about a child's call to Shoup. Published in the Pasadena Independent, the article said the child reversed two digits in the Sears number. "When a childish voice asked COC commander Col. Harry Shoup, if there was a Santa Claus at the North Pole, he answered much more roughly than he should — considering the season: ‘There may be a guy called Santa Claus at the North Pole, but he’s not the one I worry about coming from that direction,'" Shoup said in the brief piece. In 2015, The Atlantic magazine doubted the flood of calls to the secret line, while noting that Shoup had a flair for public relations. Phone calls aside, Shoup was indeed media savvy. In 1986, he told the Scripps Howard News Service that he recognized an opportunity when a staff member drew Santa on the glass map in 1955. A lieutenant colonel promised to have it erased. But Shoup said, “You leave it right there,” and summoned public affairs. Shoup wanted to boost morale for the troops and public alike. “Why, it made the military look good — like we’re not all a bunch of snobs who don’t care about Santa Claus,” he said. Shoup died in 2009. His children told the StoryCorps podcast in 2014 that it was a misprinted Sears ad that prompted the phone calls. “And later in life he got letters from all over the world,” said Terri Van Keuren, a daughter. "People saying ‘Thank you, Colonel, for having, you know, this sense of humor.’” A rare addition to Santa's story NORAD's tradition is one of the few modern additions to the centuries-old Santa story that have endured, according to Gerry Bowler, a Canadian historian who spoke to the AP in 2010. Ad campaigns or movies try to “kidnap” Santa for commercial purposes, said Bowler, who wrote “Santa Claus: A Biography.” NORAD, by contrast, takes an essential element of Santa's story and views it through a technological lens. In a recent interview with the AP, Air Force Lt. Gen. Case Cunningham explained that NORAD radars in Alaska and Canada — known as the northern warning system — are the first to detect Santa. He leaves the North Pole and typically heads for the international dateline in the Pacific Ocean. From there he moves west, following the night. “That's when the satellite systems we use to track and identify targets of interest every single day start to kick in,” Cunningham said. “A probably little-known fact is that Rudolph’s nose that glows red emanates a lot of heat. And so those satellites track (Santa) through that heat source.” NORAD has an app and website, www.noradsanta.org, that will track Santa on Christmas Eve from 4 a.m. to midnight, mountain standard time. People can call 1-877-HI-NORAD to ask live operators about Santa’s location from 6 a.m. to midnight, mountain time.On Boxing Day at around 6:40 p.m., a structure fire summoned emergency responders to Elliott Road in the Municipality of Bayham. A garage was fully involved by the time responders arrived, with heat from the detached building compromising the residence next to it. Crews worked to bring down the flames and keep the fire from spreading. The garage and everything inside was completely destroyed, and some damage was done to the residence exterior, with some smoke damage inside. Damages are estimated to be roughly $125,000. The owner was home at the time and called for help when he saw the flames. He received some slight heat exposure to his face, but did not need serious treatment. The fire is under investigation, but does not seem suspicious in nature. Shopping Trends The Shopping Trends team is independent of the journalists at CTV News. We may earn a commission when you use our links to shop. Read about us. Editor's Picks Here Are All The Best Amazon Boxing Day Deals You Can Find On Beauty Products In Canada These Walking Pads Will Help You Get 10,000 Steps Every Day (And They're On Sale In The Name Of Boxing Day) 10 Family Calendars And Planners That'll Help You Keep Track Of Everything In The New Year Home If You're Headed Somewhere Warm On Vacation, Don't Forget To Pack These 16 Things Our Guide To The Best Snow Shovels In Canada In 2024 (And Where To Get Them) 14 Of The Best Home Security Devices You Can Find Online Right Now (And They've Got The Reviews To Prove It) Gifts The Clock Is Ticking — Shop These 25 Last-Minute Amazon Prime Gifts Now If You Have An Amazon Prime Account, These 70+ Crowd-Pleasing Gifts Will Still Arrive Before Christmas If You Have An Amazon Prime Account, These 50 Brilliant Stocking Stuffers Will Still Arrive Before Christmas Beauty 20 Products Your Dry, Dehydrated Skin Will Thank You For Ordering 14 Hydrating Face Masks That’ll Save Your Skin This December 12 Budget-Friendly Products To Add To Your Winter Skincare Routine Deals 11 Bestselling Coffee Makers And Espresso Machines You Can Get On Sale Right Now Don’t Walk, Run! These LEGO Kits Are On Sale For Boxing Day 2024 The Waterpik Advanced Water Flosser Will Make Cleaning Your Teeth So Much Easier — And It's 41% Off For Boxing Day London Top Stories Garage fire causes $125,000 in damages near Tillsonburg Carjacking suspects impersonated police, left victim stranded on 401 on Christmas Day: OPP Wortley Village business pillar to rise again as 'homage to what it was' Proposed Agri-science centre gets new name and new potential home Port Elgin, Ont. woman named Canada's Favourite Crossing Guard Police warn of dangers of ice after someone falls through SIU investigating after arrested suspect hospitalized Sarnia police respond to Christmas Day stabbing, robbery CTVNews.ca Top Stories Trudeau, Carney push back over Trump's ongoing 51st state comments Two senior members of the federal cabinet were in Florida Friday pushing Canada's new border plan with Donald Trump's transition team, a day after Trudeau himself appeared to finally push back at the president-elect over his social media posts about turning Canada into the 51st state. Calgary Boxing Day crash victim identified, mother and sister still in hospital A nine-year-old girl has died in hospital after the vehicle she was in was struck by a driver in a stolen vehicle fleeing from police. Missing dog returned to family home and rang the doorbell After a nearly weeklong search, Athena, a four-year-old German Shepherd and Husky mix, found her way home to her Florida family in time for Christmas Eve and even rang the doorbell. Five southern Ont. hunters fined $37K for moose hunt offences in northern Ont. A multi-year moose hunting investigation resulted in five people being convicted of moose hunting offences and fined a total of $37,000, plus $9,250 in victim surcharges. Gerry Butts says Trudeau less likely to remain leader since Freeland quit A former chief adviser and close friend to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says he doesn't think Trudeau will stay on to lead the Liberals in the next election. B.C. man charged with dangerous driving after elderly Good Samaritan killed in crash A man is facing multiple charges of dangerous driving following a collision that led to the death of an 80-year-old Good Samaritan on Vancouver Island, B.C. Halifax Thunderbirds player Tyson Bell suspended, cited for assault in Colorado The Halifax Thunderbirds has suspended player Tyson Bell following an alleged assault in Colorado. 'Nobody should have to go through that': N.B. family grieving father, daughter killed in crash A New Brunswick family is grieving the loss of a father and daughter in a crash. Whooping cough is on the rise in the States. What's happening in Canada? Canadian health officials say they're seeing spikes in whooping cough cases in parts of the country as the U.S. deals with case numbers not seen in more than a decade. Kitchener Fire rips through former Peter Hay Knife Company building in Cambridge Emergency responders were called to a fire in Cambridge on Thursday as flames ripped through the building that formerly belonged to the Peter Hay Knife Company. Guelph Police looking for man as part of fraud investigation Police in Guelph have released several photos in an attempt to identify a man connected to a fraud investigation. Sawed-off shotgun and three knives seized during Cambridge arrest Two people from Thunder Bay are facing drug trafficking and weapons charges after they were arrested in Cambridge. Barrie Shoppers hit Boxing Week sales as retailers push for post-holiday profits Retailers extend Boxing Day sales into Boxing Week and beyond to clear inventory and boost post-holiday profits. Are your bins still at the curb? Here are the changes to curbside collection Curbside collection is delayed by one day this week due to the holidays. Dino-sized family event in Barrie supports a good cause Families in Barrie can take a step back in time over the holidays, exploring a prehistoric world filled with inflatable fun and life-sized dinosaurs. Windsor Vehicle flipped on its roof in west Windsor collision It was a wild scene earlier this afternoon in the city's west side - just before 1 p.m. surveillance video showed a van plowing into the side of another van, sending the struck vehicle onto its roof. Essex residents get second chance for holiday garbage pickup after calendar misprint Essex residents in the town’s north end will see garbage trucks return Monday, December 30 after a calendar misprint caused confusion about holiday trash collection. Carjacking suspects impersonated police, left victim stranded on 401 on Christmas Day: OPP On Dec. 25 at 9:00 p.m., police received a call to the eastbound lanes of the 401 near the 65 km marker. There the victim was stopped by three people in two suspect vehicles, one with flashing red and blue lights in the windshield. Northern Ontario Five southern Ont. hunters fined $37K for moose hunt offences in northern Ont. A multi-year moose hunting investigation resulted in five people being convicted of moose hunting offences and fined a total of $37,000, plus $9,250 in victim surcharges. Gerry Butts says Trudeau less likely to remain leader since Freeland quit A former chief adviser and close friend to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says he doesn't think Trudeau will stay on to lead the Liberals in the next election. Five-vehicle crash closes Hwy. 11 in New Liskeard A collision involving five vehicles closed Highway 11 in both directions Friday morning between Golf Course Drive in New Liskeard and Highway 66 in Kenogami. Sault Ste. Marie Man shot by officer after firing at police car near Thunder Bay: SIU Ontario's Special Investigations Unit is probing a shooting near Thunder Bay in which a man was shot and wounded by a police officer on Boxing Day. Alleged impaired driver crashes into police cruiser on Boxing Day While on general patrol in northwestern Ontario on Boxing Day, an Ontario Provincial Police officer’s vehicle was struck. Five southern Ont. hunters fined $37K for moose hunt offences in northern Ont. A multi-year moose hunting investigation resulted in five people being convicted of moose hunting offences and fined a total of $37,000, plus $9,250 in victim surcharges. Ottawa FREEZING RAIN WARNING | Freezing rain expected in Ottawa Saturday morning ahead of warm spell After some cold days and nights this past week, warmer weather is on the way. Police watchdog investigating after officer shot crowd control gun at Ottawa man Ontario’s police watchdog is investigating after an Ottawa police officer shot a crowd control gun at a man, 43, Tuesday in Nepean. Seeking solutions to the troubles facing downtown Ottawa Rideau Street was once the heart of the capital's shopping district. For decades, people came from all over the region to shop, but with changing habits and the recent revolution in online shopping, many no longer head downtown to find that special item. Toronto Pedestrian taken to the hospital after being struck by TTC bus driver at Islington Station A female pedestrian was taken to the hospital after being hit by the driver of a TTC bus on Friday afternoon, say paramedics. 1 arrested, one outstanding after armed robbery at Ancaster cannabis dispensary Police in Hamilton are looking for a man wanted in connection with an armed robbery at a cannabis dispensary in Ancaster. Toronto will see temps above-zero as New Year's Eve approaches, says Environment Canada The final few days of 2024 will be mild in Toronto, Environment Canada says. Montreal Montreal SPCA at full capacity amid spike in pet surrenders The holiday season is typically a slow period for the Montreal SPCA, but this year is different. The animal shelter says the tough economic climate has taken a toll on its operation, leaving it at full capacity. Tugboats, crews try to refloat ship stuck in St. Lawrence River near Montreal A team of tugboats is being deployed to refloat a ship that has been stuck in the St. Lawrence River northeast of Montreal since Christmas Eve. Avian flu cases are concerning Quebec health officials Avian flu is raising red flags across several provinces, including in Quebec. While it poses a low risk to humans right now, experts are concerned that could change. Atlantic One dead in two-vehicle collision in Sackville, N.B. One person has died following a two-vehicle collision in Sackville, N.B., Friday. 'Nobody should have to go through that': N.B. family grieving father, daughter killed in crash A New Brunswick family is grieving the loss of a father and daughter in a crash. Man found dead inside tent in Dartmouth, police investigating Halifax Regional Police is investigating a sudden death in Dartmouth, N.S. Winnipeg Downtown Winnipeg a hub for research, baking and milling at Cereals Canada High above on the tenth floor of a downtown Winnipeg office space, baking bread is a normal routine. Man found dead after skid steer falls through ice: Manitoba RCMP A 58-year-old man is dead after a skid steer fell through the ice on a Manitoba pond on Christmas Eve. Winnipeg police arrest fifth person in drug trafficking investigation; sixth suspect still at large The Winnipeg Police Service (WPS) has made a fifth arrest in a drug trafficking investigation but is still searching for a sixth suspect. Calgary Calgary Boxing Day crash victim identified, mother and sister still in hospital A nine-year-old girl has died in hospital after the vehicle she was in was struck by a driver in a stolen vehicle fleeing from police. Calgary woman killed in Saskatchewan highway crash A 25-year-old woman from Calgary was killed in a crash on Highway 7, west of Rosetown, Saskatchewan on Christmas Eve. Albertans watching closely as Ottawa tries to talk down Trump tariffs Alberta's politicians and business community will have eyes on Florida this weekend, following a federal government outreach trip. Edmonton Premier Smith proud of Alberta's 'major transformation' of health care in 2024 Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says transforming the province's health-care system defined her government in 2024. Cell phone scam costs Edmontonians $600K: EPS Edmonton police are warning residents about a cell phone scam that has so far defrauded victims of more than $600,000. 2 teens hospitalized in Christmas Day fire Two teens were hospitalized after a fire broke out at an apartment building in west Edmonton Christmas Day. Regina 'Something that connected us all': For 53 years, Sask. family celebrates holidays with street hockey game For over 50 years, Stephen Lentzos and his family have celebrated Christmas Day with a street hockey game. Regina police launch homicide investigation after injured man dies at scene Regina police have launched a homicide investigation following the death of a man found gravely injured Thursday evening. Travel not recommended for parts of Saskatchewan under risk of freezing rain Travel advisories are in effect for parts of south and central Saskatchewan on Friday, with icy roadways and the risk of freezing rain making for dangerous driving conditions. Saskatoon Calgary woman killed in Saskatchewan highway crash A 25-year-old woman from Calgary was killed in a crash on Highway 7, west of Rosetown, Saskatchewan on Christmas Eve. Travel not recommended for parts of Saskatchewan under risk of freezing rain Travel advisories are in effect for parts of south and central Saskatchewan on Friday, with icy roadways and the risk of freezing rain making for dangerous driving conditions. Raised in Sask. after his family fled Hungary, this man spent decades spying on communists for the RCMP As a Communist Party member in Calgary in the early 1940s, Frank Hadesbeck performed clerical work at the party office, printed leaflets and sold books. Vancouver B.C. man who flipped 14 homes in four years is fined $2M for tax evasion A serial property flipper in British Columbia has been convicted of tax evasion and fined more than $2 million for failing to report nearly $7.5 million in earnings. B.C. court orders fraudster who owes $36.7M to pay from retirement funds The British Columbia Securities Commission says a man behind one of the province's largest investment frauds has been ordered by the B.C. Supreme Court to use two retirement accounts to pay off a multimillion-dollar fine. 2nd earthquake in 3 days reported off Vancouver Island coast A 4.0-magnitude earthquake struck off Vancouver Island's west coast early Friday morning, less than 48 hours after a 4.8-magnitude quake in roughly the same location on Christmas Day. Vancouver Island 2nd earthquake in 3 days reported off Vancouver Island coast A 4.0-magnitude earthquake struck off Vancouver Island's west coast early Friday morning, less than 48 hours after a 4.8-magnitude quake in roughly the same location on Christmas Day. B.C. team building 100 beaver 'starter homes' in the name of wetland preservation More than 70 manmade beaver dams have been installed in Interior waterways since the B.C. Wildlife Federation project launched last year with the goal of building 100 dams by the end of 2025. B.C. man charged with dangerous driving after elderly Good Samaritan killed in crash A man is facing multiple charges of dangerous driving following a collision that led to the death of an 80-year-old Good Samaritan on Vancouver Island, B.C. Stay Connected